A French carved fruitwood dressing mirror late 17th/early 18th century

on an easel support, with a replaced plate

Some warping to the frame. Some patches to the back of the frame. Replaced back board. Minor blemishes to the silvering throughout. Some small old chips to edges throughout frame, cracks where the frame joins.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The frame to the mirror here relates to a group of carved wares for dressing tables, typically in boxwood or fruitwood which are often attributed to Cesar Bagard of Nancy, court sculptor to Charles IV of Lorraine. This association stems from the carved detail to the stone pedestals for his statues which have affinities with the carved wooden detail found on the present lot and other recorded dressing table accessories. However there appears to be no evidence to support this association since Bagard was primarily a sculptor whose repertoire cannot be assumed to extend to the design of decorative pedestals. His name nevertheless provides a useful label to denote a style of intricate wood carving, sharing characteristics with some Louis XIV silverware of the late 17th century. Wares of the kind, typified by the mirror here, were possibly produced by the Foulon family of Nancy sculptors (see H. Demoriane, `Bois de Bagard', Connaissance des Arts, January 1968, p. 91). A similar mirror together with a casket were offered Sotheby's New York, 22 October 2005, lot 40.

Cesar Bagard, the fourth child of Nicolas Bagard, was born in Nancy in April 1620. He was a pupil of the sculptor Jacuin and he specialised in monumental statues for churches or public locations. Regrettably much of his considerable work was destroyed in the French revolution (see Edward H. Pinto, Treen and Other Wooden Bygones, 1969, pp. 366-367 and pl. 387).